Pierre Tchernia, originally named Pierre Tcherniakowski, was born on January 29, 1928, in Paris and passed away on October 8, 2016. Renowned in the French entertainment industry, he earned the affectionate titles “Magic” Tchernia and Monsieur Cinéma for his extensive contributions as a producer, screenwriter, presenter, animator, and actor.
Growing up in Courbevoie as the youngest of four siblings, Pierre was the son of a Ukrainian engineer and a seamstress. His passion for film ignited at the young age of 12 after watching John Ford's iconic Western, Stagecoach. He pursued his interest by studying at a technical school for film and photography, eventually joining the Institute for Advanced Cinematographic Studies.
In 1949, Tchernia played a pivotal role in launching France's first televised news broadcast and became one of the country's early news presenters. By 1955, he ventured into animation production, drawing inspiration from the pioneering works of Walt Disney. For many years, he captivated audiences as the host of the movie trivia game show Monsieur Cinéma, alongside numerous other French variety and quiz programs, including La Clé des champs. Tchernia also served as the regular French commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest, participating in 14 editions from 1958 to 1974.
His remarkable career culminated in recognition when he was honored as Commandeur of the Legion of Honor on July 14, 2011, celebrating his lasting impact on French cinema and television.
